Check with your doctor or a pharmacist if you miss 2 doses or more. Uncommon side-effects: rash, liver inflammation. Azathioprine does not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill and emergency contraception. How to store Azathioprine Tablets should be obtained from your doctor. Biological medicines. Most patients experience no problems with azathioprine. Before using Azathioprine Tablet, inform your doctor about your current list of medications, over the counter products (e.g. Nausea and vomiting are common adverse effects, especially at the beginning of a treatment. It might help to take azathioprine after you have had a meal or snack. Immunosuppressants help "calm" (or control) your body's immune system. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. This causes severe ‘flu’-like symptoms (severe aches and pains, high fever and shaking). Adults are given an "inactivated" flu vaccine and this usually causes no problems with azathioprine. You will usually be prescribed this medicine by a specialist doctor. feeling sick – stick to simple meals and do not eat rich or spicy food while you're taking this medicine. Arthritis Research UK Tel: 0870 850 5000 Website: www.arthritisresearchuk.org Notes: Department: You have been prescribed Azathioprine This is a Daily Medication. Mercaptopurine is used less often than azathioprine in the UK. References: British Association of Dermatologists’ guidelines for the safe and effective prescribing of azathioprine 2011 (NICE accredited) If you get any symptoms that affect your ability to concentrate, do not drive or cycle until you feel better. Swallow the tablets whole, with a drink of water. Patients with decreased TPMT enzyme activity may need a lower dose of Azathioprin AL. However, speak to your doctor if you are pregnant or trying for a baby. Rare side-effects: mouth sores, hair loss, lung inflammation However, as the transplanted organ begins to work, you will usually begin to feel a lot better. Please expect to receive phone calls from them. You will have blood tests to check your liver function, kidney function and blood count before you start taking this medicine. azathioprine metabolism. Azathioprine treatment is associated with an increased risk of lymphoma, but if this is due to the drug or a predisposition related to Crohn's disease is unclear. information for parents and carers Menu • Hair loss, although hair often does grow again, even if you carry on taking azathioprine. Hi I have EGPA and have been taking azathioprine and prednisolone for 10 years. Vaccine updates, safe care and visitor guidelines, and trusted coronavirus information, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, FREE book offer – Mayo Clinic Health Letter, sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth, greatly decreased frequency of urination or amount of urine, pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back, unusual feeling of discomfort or illness (sudden). Do I need any special checks while on azathioprine? These are not all the side effects of azathioprine. Discuss … Azathioprine is a treatment that has been used as a disease modifying drug in multiple sclerosis. pregnancy, upcoming surgery, etc. It’s important for you to stay healthy while you are pregnant. when I tried to before my bloods showed problems and I had to raise steroid dosage again. Our Imuran (azathioprine) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication. vitamins, herbal supplements, etc. There are other potential side effects of Azathioprine which I have listed below: Common side-effects: nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, low white blood cell counts, infection . See what others have said about , including the effectiveness, ease of use and side effects. They’ll review your treatment and tell you if it’s OK to keep taking azathioprine. Feeling extremely tired or dizzy, being sick (vomiting), loose or watery stools (diarrhoea), a high temperature (fever), muscle pain or stiffness, skin rash, kidney problems (such as a change in the amount or colour of your urine) These may be signs of an allergic reaction. Vasculitis UK. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. it may be prescribed as well as prednisolone as a steroid-sparing agent when your condition has flared up. Adults and children: Transplantation. Some patients who cannot tolerate azathioprine (due to side effects) may still be able to take mercaptopurine. However there are some rare, but serious side effects that you would need to tell your doctor about immediately. A certain severe condition called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) has been reported with use of Azathioprin AL. You could also ask a pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine. Some people can have serious side effects when taking azathioprine. Azathioprine is available on prescription only. Immunomodulators can be used in the place of steroids, which can have long-term side effects. If you need to go to hospital, take the medicine packet or leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine, with you. There are several different treatments that can help the symptoms of inflammatory conditions. See below for less common side-effects. Pricing, sizing, legal catgories and other medicinal forms information for AZATHIOPRINE. Azathioprine/6-MP is usually given when . Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. If you do experience any of these, or if you experience a new symptom that is not listed below, you should inform your doctor. Commonly reported side effects of azathioprine include: infection, nausea, leukopenia, and vomiting. Copyright © 2020 IBM Watson Health. These have managed my symptoms so I lead a fairly normal life but not the same energy as before. Small amounts of azathioprine may pass into your breast milk. This causes severe ‘flu’-like symptoms (severe aches and pains, high fever and shaking). These blood tests will ensure that any concerns or problems are found quickly. Children taking azathioprine must not have a "live" flu vaccine (this usually applies to children aged 2 to 17 years). During the early weeks of treatment, azathioprine may cause the following side effects: General feeling of being unwell including dizziness and generalised aches and pains. A standard glass of wine (175ml) is 2 units of alcohol. Azathioprine is a type of medicine called an immunosuppressant. Can Taking Azathioprine Cause Any Side Effects? If you develop any coronavirus symptoms, talk to your specialist doctor urgently.  Rarely, patients may be allergic to azathioprine. Azathioprine is used as an immunosuppressive antimetabolite either alone or, more commonly, in combination with other agents (usually corticosteroids) which influence the immune response. Azathioprine (3 tablets) Week Azathioprine (2 tablets) Week Azathioprine 50mg (1 tablet) Week Mornin 150mg 3 100mg 2 1 g Continue on Azathioprine 150mg until your next appointment. © 1998-2020 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). People with normal thiopurine methyltransferase levels (see ‘Who should NOT take azathioprine’, below) can take azathioprine as a single dose, but if side effects such as sickness occur, dividing the dose and taking this medication twice a day may help. You may not feel any different at first, however azathioprine is likely to be working. If other medicines are not helping, stronger medicines called biological medicines may be needed. Apart from limiting alcohol, you can eat and drink normally. You'll usually take your tablets once or twice a day. What are the possible side effects of azathioprine? Ask your doctor for urgent advice if you have been in contact with anyone who has chickenpox or shingles while taking azathioprine. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. Nausea 2. vitamins, herbal supplements, etc. Lower doses of azathioprine are used as a therapy in children with refractory or corticosteroid-dependent Crohn's disease, without causing many side effects. • Rash. Tell your doctor if these side effects bother you or do not go away: Some people can have serious side effects when taking azathioprine. Other side-effects you need to know about Your child may get the following side-effects when they first 2.5 ml 5.0 ml Azathioprine for severe atopic eczema This leaflet is about the use of azathioprine for the treatment of severe atopic eczema. in the UK. This content does not have an English version. Can taking azathioprine cause any side effects? Name: Azathioprine Shared Care Guideline Page 4 of 5 Version: 1.3 Issue Date: June 2013 Review Date: June 2015 Disease & drug monitoring: As above –contact GP or initiating team if side effects develop (see adverse effects) and attend appointments including those for routine blood No Yes . Mechanism of action. Are there other treatments for inflammatory conditions? Do not chew them. Azathioprine is an immunosuppressant medicine used to stop your immune system from attacking parts of your body - get trusted advice on its uses and possible side effects. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet. Azathioprine can affect the way some medicines work. From week 9 onwards you will have blood tests less often. For this reason, you will need to keep taking your medicine if you have an autoimmune condition or have had an organ transplant. This audit was a retrospective case note review of patients attending However, there is no strong evidence that it can harm your baby. of azathioprine in district general hospitals in the UK, particularly related to efficacy and side effect profile, with concerns about its safety potentially contributing to a reluctance to commence treatment with the drug until late in the course of the disease. Introduction . Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In some patients, azathioprine can cause a feeling of sickness, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, hair loss and skin rashes. You'll usually need to take this medicine long term, probably for the rest of your life. You will usually feel better after a week or so. You may notice some hair loss while taking azathioprine. Low Levels Of White Blood Cells 3. Stop taking your medicine and contact your specialist or a doctor immediately if: you feel tired all the time, dizzy or sick, or you are vomiting or have diarrhoea you have a high temperature with shivering or chills, cough or a sore throat 6,615 members • 5,812 posts. Close menu. Azathioprine is used in the treatment of pemphigus and rheumatoid arthritis where it has significant therapeutic activity when used without corticosteroids. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them: Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. However, hair often does grow again, even if you carry on taking it. Your doctor will decide how often you need them. For more information about how azathioprine can affect you and your baby during pregnancy, read this leaflet on the best use of medicines in pregnancy (BUMPs) website. You may have to wait a few months to see an improvement. Low levels of TPMT may mean there is a slightly increased risk of side effects from azathioprine, so your doctor may suggest a lower dose. If you have had an organ transplant, you'll probably take it for the rest of your life. This combination will be adjusted gradually in the months after your operation. For this reason it is even more important to stick to the national guidelines of drinking no more than 14 units a week for men and women. 4.2 Posology and method of administration . For this reason, avoid strong sunlight and use a sunscreen (SPF 30 or more), and wear clothes that cover your arms and legs. However it is possible that some side effects may occur during treatment. Side-effects may require drug withdrawal. Your child may get these side-effects when they first start taking azathioprine. Azathioprine can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. Azathioprine is an imidazole derivative of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP). What are the common side effects? This content does not have an Arabic version. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. TPMT helps to break down and remove azathioprine from the body. The likelihood of experiencing side effects depends on what you are taking azathioprine for and at what dose. Home; About; Posts ; Members; Azathioprine side effects . Your doctor will be able to recommend the best treatment for you, based on your condition and your symptoms. You will have regular blood tests while taking azathioprine. What are the possible side effects? This medicine may increase your risk of getting certain types of cancer, especially of the skin, lymph system (lymphoma), or blood (leukemia). See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects. If you take azathioprine for an inflammatory or autoimmune condition, it slows down the production of new cells in your body’s immune system. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away: Upset stomach or throwing up. 4. Difficulty with breathing 2. difficulty with moving 3. fat in the stool 4. general feeling of illness 5. pale skin 6. sores on the skin 7. stomach cramps 8. sudden loss of weight 9. troubled breathing with movement 10. weight lossSome side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. Azathioprine is available as 25 mg and 50 mg tablets. Also am suffering hair loss too. It can also lower the number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. Next review due: 26 February 2023. Generally IBD patients are not offered thiopurines when first diagnosed, only after they have achieved remission on other treatments. However, if you do have severe side effects, or are concerned about your symptoms, contact one of the healthcare professionals in charge of your care. Appears in the UK, tell your doctor if you become pregnant, do not stop taking medicine! Your current list of adverse effects 1 kind of immunosuppressant therapy or dose... Are made ) these blood tests information on a medicine may cause some unwanted effects azathioprine... Your life activity may need immediate treatment in hospital concerns or problems are quickly... To 5mg for each kilogram you weigh for the rest of your treatment not notice other! Lowest dose of steroids, which usually improve as your condition after a transplant, you 'll usually take tablets... Sure it is used in the UK safety scheme doesn ’ t cause drowsiness, but this is not in... Can feel weak, dizzy or lightheaded when taking azathioprine prescribed immunosuppressant medicine as usual azathioprine side-effects: mouth,! 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